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Erin Brockovich (2000) ft. Ryan Luis Rodriguez

  • Writer: Thomas Duncan
    Thomas Duncan
  • Mar 12
  • 4 min read


Guest:


Cast:

  • Steven Soderbergh, Director

  • Susannah Grant, Writer

  • Ed Lachman, Cinematography

  • Thomas Newman, Music

  • Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich

  • Albert Finney as Edward L. Masry

  • Aaron Eckhart as George

  • Marg Helgenberger as Donna Jensen

  • Tracey Walter as Charles Embry

  • Peter Coyote as Kurt Potter

  • Cherry Jones as Pamela Duncan

  • Conchata Ferrell as Brenda


Background:

  • Erin Brockovich was released on March 17, 2000.

  • On a budget of $52 million, it would be a moderate hit grossing over $256 million and finishing #13 at the worldwide box office for 2000.

  • The film received mostly positive reviews at the time with a few notable standouts, but would go on to be nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture, Director (Soderbergh), Supporting Actor (Finney), and Original Screenplay (Grant). The film would win Julia Roberts her only Oscar to date for Best Actress.

  • American Film Institute recognition:

    • AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains:

      • Erin Brockovich – Hero No. 31

    • AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers – No. 73

  • Erin Brockovich currently holds an 85% among critics on RT, a 73 score on Metacritic, and a 3.9/5 on Letterboxd.


Plot Summary: Erin Brockovich is a biographical drama starring Julia Roberts as the titular character, a struggling single mother who stumbles upon a major environmental scandal. Working at a small law firm, Erin discovers that Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has been contaminating the water supply of Hinkley, California, leading to severe health issues for its residents. Despite having no formal legal training, her relentless determination and personal connection to the victims drive her to build a case against the corporation. With her bold personality and refusal to back down, she helps secure a record-breaking $333 million settlement. The film, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is a compelling tale of persistence, justice, and the power of one person to make a difference.


Did You Know:

  • Julia Roberts received an unprecedented salary for her lead role, making her the first woman to break the $20m barrier.

  • Hinkley's toxins made the real Brockovich sick at one point. Steven Soderbergh filmed a scene set at the hospital, but later cut it from the final product. "I didn't want people to think that this was going to turn into one of those movies where the protagonist gets terminally ill," he said on the DVD commentary. "It was a tough call, because Erin really did get sick and was hospitalized for a while."

  • After the success of the movie about herself, Erin Brockovich-Ellis was the target of a blackmail attempt by her first husband, an old boyfriend (the 'George' biker character in the movie), and their attorney, who threatened to smear her reputation as a parent. She called the police, who recorded the shake down threats and arrested them. The attorney reportedly served time in prison as a result.

  • Albert Finney initially turned down the film. Danny DeVito had to convince Finney's girlfriend to convince the actor to change his mind, offering to schedule all of the actor's scenes as Ed Masry closer together so he wouldn't have to be in Los Angeles as long as earlier scheduled.

  • This is the last of Steven Soderbergh's films to be shot by a cinematographer other than himself, in this case Edward Lachman. He has shot all of his subsequent films and TV productions, using the pseudonym Peter Andrews.


Best Performance: Julia Robert (Erin)/Albert Finney (Masry)

Best Secondary Performance: Albert Finney (Masry)/Marg Helgenberger (Donna Jensen)

Most Charismatic Award: Steven Soderbergh (Director)/Tracy Walter (Charles Embry)/Cherry Jones (Pam Duncan)

Best Scene:

  • Courtroom Clash

  • Erin Sinks Her Teeth In

  • George Looks After Her Kids

  • Clash with Potter

  • Charles Embry

  • The Spoils

Favorite Scene: The Spoils

Most Indelible Moment: Clash with Potter/Charles Embry/Ed Buys Erin a Truck


In Memorium:

  • David Johansen, 75, American musician (New York Dolls), singer ("Hot Hot Hot") and actor (Scrooged)

  • Michael Preece, 88, American director (The Prize Fighter, Dallas, Walker, Texas Ranger)

  • Betsy Arakawa, 65, American pianist.

  • Gene Hackman, 95, American actor (The French Connection, Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, Hoosiers, Superman), Oscar winner (1972, 1993)


Best Lines/Funniest Lines:

Erin Brockovich: By the way, we had that water brought in specially for you folks. Came from a well in Hinkley.


Kurt Potter: Wha... how did you do this?

Erin Brockovich: Well, um, seeing as how I have no brains or legal expertise, and Ed here was losing all faith in the system, am I right?

Ed Masry: Oh, yeah, completely. No faith, no faith...

Erin Brockovich: I just went out there and performed sexual favors. Six hundred and thirty-four blow jobs in five days... I'm really quite tired.


Ed Masry: What makes you think you can just walk in there and find what we need?

Erin Brockovich: They're called boobs, Ed.


Theresa Dallavale: Okay, look, I think we got off on the wrong foot here...

Erin Brockovich: That's all you got, lady. Two wrong feet in fucking ugly shoes.


Donna Jensen: You're a lawyer?

Erin Brockovich: NO, no... I hate lawyers. I only work for them.


Ed Masry: In a law firm you may want to re-think your wardrobe a little.

Erin Brockovich: Well as long as I have one ass instead of two I'll wear what I like if that's all right with you. You might want to re-think those ties.


Erin Brockovich: Look, I don't know shit about shit but I know right from wrong!


Erin Brockovich: For the first time in my life, I got people respecting me. Please, don't ask me to give it up.


The Stanley Rubric:

Legacy: 7.5

Impact/Significance: 7.83

Novelty: 6.33

Classic-ness: 7.5

Rewatchability: 6.5

Audience Score: 8.4 (87% Google, 81% RT)

Total: 44.06


Remaining Questions:

  • Why do employers penalize people for being out of the workforce for periods of time?

  • Bigger Accomplishment: Julia Roberts sweeping the Critics Choice, Golden Globes, BAFTA, SAG, and Oscars or a dual nomination for Best Director for Steven Soderbergh?

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